The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24
ARE VIZ ITS DEBTORS Z?
MIR. LAW MAINTAINS THAT WE ARE IN
DEBTED TO THE RECIPIENT OF
OUR FAVoRS.
He Denies us Credit for Our Gifts.
While Offering no Explanation or
Apology for His Objectionable
Speech at Abbeville.

Apology FOR HIS OnJectiohaniH
Speech at Abbeville.
We are In receipt Of the following letter
from Mr.. Thomas II. Law, District Superin-
tcndcnt of the American bible Society.
While the letter is not such one rs we might
reasonably have expected from one who holds
his high position. yet we most cheerfully give
him the opportunity of being heard. If he
had simply dsclaimed any intention to be
rude toward our people, and had even grant
cd a grudging acknowledgment of our earnest
effort to raise money for the Society, whose
representative he Is, and had recognized our
gift at all, we should have been satisfied. But
he writes letter which, we think, lacks any
evidence of willingness to do us justice.
Is the American Bible Society Ben.
factor?
To the Editor of the Press and Ronner:
on my return home yesterday from ten
days tour I found on my desk a copy OF your
paper of the 10th inst, containing the ealto.
rial headed "are we indebted to the recipient
of our fuvors?" In that article perceive
that You attack the statement & made by me ne
before the Abheville District Bible society ,1 At
its lute anniversary, The American Bible
society comes to you as n benefactor not as
a beggar' have no !ondness for newspaper
controversy; but, unwilling to rest under the
mputaton Of maRing, as the represenerttIpe aeertoG
which is either rash or untrue, / beg the OPP
portunity of presenting through your col.
umns the grounds upon which based my
statement; and then am willing TO let your
realers Judge whether 1t is true. or not. ]
shall simply state the facts and leave tnem 10
draw the conclusion.
/. The American Bible Society makes no
profit upon its publications. With all the
advantages pertaining to very large buSI-
ness. conducted on economical principles, at
The centres Of trade in this and foreign lands,
il sells it's books to all who purchase lnem u
the actual cost Of publication.
.. 1t prints. distributes, and in some cases
translates. tho Scriptures at its own expense
for use in our Foreign Mission fields, and thus
saves all our churches that heavy but neces-
sary expense Last year 1t expended In this
department Of It's work the net sum (after de-
ducting receipts for sales of books In foreign
lands OF SllS,0OO; and for the current year II
has put down still larger sum In lts esti-
mates for this work.
8. 1t brings It's publications to the reach OF
our people by donating ten per cent or Inc COST
price to all Bible Society Depositorles ana 10
all dealers, so that by thus defraying the ex.
pense Of transportation, &C.. the books may,
be sold to all purchasers at the actual cost OF
of publication. Besides this 1t makes large
act rs unpaid distributors In selling, and IN
giving to the destitute, requiring only the net
returns of sales after the expenses are paid
and donates also extensively TO charltaoie
bath Schools, to the blind, TO seamcn. To
steamships, railroads, hotels etc.
4. 1t sends out its coporteurs. whose wages
and expenses are al paid out OF It's own treas
nrv, to canvass sections not accessible to de.
postories by going from house TO mouse, sell
ing the Scriptures at cost to such as Will BUY
and giving to such as are In need anu are nil,
able or unwilling to purchase. Every few
wears it makes general canvass, upon these
terms, of the whole land, SO that no family
may be without the Bible. In these ways u
uses every year It's income OF about mali
million dollars, in printing and distributing
s. In ali this extensive work the American
Bible Society asks OF Its AuXiliarles, out o
the funds which they collect for the cause
only the surplus left after supplying theirowll
fields, with all the help which 1t affords them
in furnishing books at ten per cent less than
actual cost. And If they are unable TO 10 thiS
work themsel YES, II still further aids them by
grants of books and the labors of its colpor
G. At the recent meeting Of Abbevillc Dis
trict Bible Society, call you to witness, dlo
rent Society; but urged the society to replen
| ish its Depository and seek to supply tho
needs of its own field. And as matter o.
fact, have received on Donation Account
the eighteen societies that have visited had
| in cash and subscriptions, funds to the
amount of $780, or 100000.
| z In purchasing Life-Inemberships for two
of its members the Abbevllle Society did not
make n clear donation of $1,000 to the Parent
society. BY this arrangement these two
members are each entitled to the Bible SO
| ciety Record, the subscription price OF which
is thirty cents PER annum. and to one dollars
worth of Bibles free, every year so long rs
they live. Thus they each receive back Sl.3L
per year on the $500 paid for their Lile-mein
bership, which is over three and one-half per
| cent interest, the rate which the American
Bibbfe Society realizes on its invested funds.
These, Mr.. Editor, are the plain and incon
| trovertiblc facts Of the case.
| THOS. II. LAW,
Spartanburg, s. G. Dist. Supt. y. b. S.
| August 18th, 1887.